Gas-engine



P. R. PETERSON.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1919.

1,347,055, f E PatentedJuly 20,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

"5"@ Kwam [N VE N TOR.

ATTORNEY P. R. PETERSON.

GAS ENGINE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 1, 1919.

'1;341055, -l .PAtenteaJuly 20,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. 92m Wmm" [N VE N TOR.

TORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAS-ENGIN E.

To all 'whom z'zf may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER R. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake, and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gas engines, and has for its object to provide a piston driven gas engine wherebyk the explosive force of compressed gas may be used to reciprocate a piston and thereby rotate a driving shaft without using a crank shaft, eccentric or gears, and whereby a much greater amount of the explosive Vforce of compressed gas may be utilized with fewer parts and a less number of valves. Y Y

These objects I accomplish with the machine villustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and as described in the speciiication forming a part and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which I have shown a substantial embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a section longitudinally through the explosion chamber and transversely through the shaft and rotary portion of the machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the rotor and casings with the shaft in elevation, parts cut away. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the friction elements. Fig. 1 is a iew in perspective of one of the lever blocks. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the connecting lever. Fig. 6 is a section of the casing cap with the spark plug in elevation. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a portion of the connecting rod, showing the lever en gaging portieri.`

The present invention consists of casings A,C, D and E which inclose the internal combustion chamber, the connecting rod and pistons and the rotor. An opening is provided in one side of said casing E, through which the. interior of said casing may beV reached to remove the pistons and other internal parts, which opening is normally closed by the plate B. The said casing E, which inclosed a portion of the rotor, coacts with another casing C to form the rotor cas- Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 7, 1919.

of this application y Patented July 20, 1920. Serial No. 281,289.

ing. The said casing C is fastened to the casing E by bolts lthrough iianges on said casings to form an oil chamber 2, wherein oil is retained to lubricate by the splash system the interior parts of the machine. The said casing A is internally bored to provide a piS- ton chamber 3, in the walls of which chamber are provided the gas inlet or port 4, and the exhaust port On one end of said piston chamber 3 is secured a closure cap 6 which forms one end and side walls of the explosion chamber 7. A spark pug S of any make is provided in said cap 6 through which the gas is exploded by the usual electric spark. A piston 9 is operated in said chamber 3, and to which piston is fastened the connecting rod 10. Within the casing D is provided an air chamber axially alined with said piston chamber 3 but in opposed position thereto andthe said air chamber 11 has an air port 12 opening to its interior. A piston 1% which is fastened to said connecting rod 10 is operated in said air chamber 11.

A driven shaft 15 is journaled between said casings C and E transverse in position to said connecting rod 10, and a rotor 16 is secured on said shaft. The friction elements are mounted normally concentric with said rotor 1G and consist of a spring band 1T formed into a circle and with its ends fastened and pivoted to the lever connection 18. The wearing shoes 19 are fastened to the inner periphery of said spring band, and each consists of a block of some good wearing material, such as wood, with curved faces to conform with the said band 17 and the peripherie face of said rotor 1G. Each of said shoes 19 has its inner corners cut off and to each is provided a goose neck shaped spring 2O which is secured at one end to a collar 30 by being threaded and screwed therein and held in place hy a j am nut 24 to be screwed down when said spring has been adjusted, which collar is operable on a bearing sleeve 21. The free end of each of said springs is fastened on the spring band 17. One end portion of said lever connection 18 is bifurcated and formed into two spaced apart circular disks 25. Each of said disks 25 engages in its respective slidable block 2G, that in turn is operated between the ribs 27 integrally and medially formed on the said connecting rod 10. A water jacket 28 is provided around the explosion chamber 3 with openings 29' bored into the end walls which connect said water jacket 28 with an- Y other water jacket 31 which I provide inthe Y said cap 6.

The operation of my engine is as follows With an explosive gas under some coinpression ini, a` tank connected withr the ports V6 to the position shown in dotted lines and the exploded gas will exhaust through the port and another-charge of through the portl 4 and fill said vchambers 3 driven away the connecting` vrodI 10 will drive the pistony and? 7. This new charge of gas will in its turn be compressedin the compression chain-y ber 7 Vby the return movement ofsaid piston 9'and it will be red in a similar way by the electric spark. vThenl the said; piston 9 is from the cap 6 by an explosion 14 into the aircliamber 11 and some air will be forced out into the air supply reservoir,Y which is not shown, through the port 12.

` All o f t-lieair within thatrportion of said chamberYl-l which is below the said portl 12 will be compressed and act as a cushion to stop the momentum off the two pistons and rods lOand start them on the return strokeor movement'. The said' compressed' air in the lower port-ion of chamber 11" wiil start Y the saidpistons 14 and'9 on'tlie return stroke and when said port 12 is opened by the pass-Y ing of piston 14, the compressed air which l is held in the air supply reservoir will then ret-urn the pistons to the explosion position,

whereby another charge of gas will be conipressed and fired, therebyYcausingreciprocation of the said connecting rod 10 andv the said pistons 9 and 14': within their respective chambers., To apply and explain the said reciprocatory movements of said rod 10 with; the other connected parts of the Wengine, the explosion movement of said rod 11O'will1 first throw the connecting lever in the direction of the arrow a shown on the rotor 16, and tighten the spring band `17 and lessen its circumference and diameter, and

` thereby the shoes 19 will be, brought into c arrow a. The first portion of the return orV compressed air movement as applied to the connecting rod 10 and its connections will be gripping contact with the rotor 16;A The continuation of said explosion movement onY the rod 1O1will be impartedv to the rotor 16 and it'will be rotatedfin the direction of` t-lie to throw said connecting lever 18 opposite Ynaled on the 7 through the i the compressed' air.Y Y

the movement of the rotor 16 and release the i said shoes 19 from any contact 'with said rotor. The momentum 'of the rotor, and a fly wheel if` desired, will continue the rotation until the neXt explosion1 which will: repeat the movements. In order to regulate theY distance between the inner faces of said shoes 19 and the peripherie face of said rotor the goose neck shaped springs 2O are pro- Y vided, one for each shoe, and they are ra-y dially fastened in a collar 30, whichis jourbearing sleeve 21, Yandfeiitend outwardly andI are. given a curve to bring Y the free end in parallel relation with the outer face of saidE shoes 19- andfV said;y spring band' 17, and said free end; isi-'then secured to saidloand' and the shoe adjacent by passing said endl through; the fastening means usedto hold'saidish'oes in xed relation with said banda The curved' Y portion of said springs willi allow slight movements of'i said band andi shoes but normally hold the shoes free orf-fthe rotor.Y Each4 explosion offtliegas will drive the pistons 9'and' 14 and therod 10 and cause the band 17 and slices 19-to gripthe rotor/and;r rotate it alwaysi'n the direction ofthe arrow,v and each air compression ofchamber'll will drive theYpistons andl rod in the oppositev direct-ionV and releaseI the springV band and" shoes from said gripping contact with therotor and return the pistons, rod 10 andV gripping numbers' tol-another explosion position, thus making-the movements automaticexcept therring ofthe gas-Y f f Y iswillbe-obvious if I desire torotate said shaft 15 inthe opposite directionl I willprovide another rotor-thereon-and' similar gripping elements adapted tol engage said' rotor whenfthe connecting rod is ldriven in the op'-V posite-direction'bythe gas explosion, and to release said grip whenasaid rodi is driven by rotor 'and movingYelements may. be employedE to'drive said shafty 1'5 inA eitherfdirect-ion if-Y desired. Y

Alsomore than oney IIYa-ving thus described'- my` invention; IY desire to secure by Letters Patentand claim Y 1. In a gas engine the combination of an Y explosionl cylinder having aneXhaust Vand an` inlet port; an air cylinder in alinement with said'v explosion cylinder;l a piston operable in each of said cylinders;a connecting rod' between said pistons, a` driven Shaft transversely .mountedixadj'acent' Ysaid connecting rod; a rotor secured on andv rotatable with said shaft; a friction bandl concentrically spacedv from said rotor; friction shoes fas.

tenedon the inner facel of said frictionYband;

springs'to normally hold said 'shoe spaced Y' from said rotor; andYaYconri'ecting leverpivoted tothe ends of said friction band and operated by said"c'o'nnecting'rod,Y

2. A gas engine comprising a driven shaft; a rotor secured on and rotatableYYwith said shaft; an explosion cylinder; a piston operable therein; means to grip said rotor when said piston is moved in one direction and to release said gripping means When said piston is moved in the opposite direction, said means consisting of a spring band adjacent the periphery of said rotor; frietion shoes secured between said band and said rotor; and a lever pivoted to the ends of said band and operated by said piston.

In testimony whereof I have aIiXed my signature.

PETER R. PETERSON. 

